S E N S AT I O N A L F U N !

everyday sensory play

M R . C L E A N

Lava Lamp Sensory BagsMaterials• Largefreezerziplockbags• Babyoil• Clearpackingtape• Fluorescentpaint

Filleachbag1/4-1/3fullwithbabyoilthenadd1to4tablespoonsoffluorescentpaint.Sealbagandsquishtogethertomix.Sealthebagusingpackingtape.Adheretothewindowortothetrayofthehighchairandallowchildtoexplorethemovingbubbles.

Body PaintingMaterials• Avarietyofdifferentsizedandtexturedpaintbrushes

Pretendtopaintdifferentbodypartsofthechildrenandhavethempretendtopaintthemselves.

I Spy Sensory BagsMaterials• Ziplockbags• Wetmediums:hairgel,bodywash,oil,water, dishsoap,etc. ORdrymediums:rice,lentils,sand,etc.• Smallthemeditems(couldmatchabook,the week’stheme,aletterortheseason)• DucttapeFillaziplocksandwichsizedbagapproximately1/3full.Additems.Removeasmuchairaspossible.Ducttapearoundalledges.Thisisanicelowpressure,lowcontactwaytointroducenewtexturestotactiledefensivechildren.

M I L D LY M E S S Y

Superhero RescueMaterials • Actionfiguresorsmallobjectsfrozeninabowl ofwater• Salt(inashaker)• Warmwater• Spraybottle• Squirtbottle• Turkeybaster• Avarietyofkitchentools

Freezetheactionfiguresthenightbeforeandthenpopoutandprovideonetoeachchild.Placethewarmwaterinsquirtbottlesandspraybottles.Usingthesalt,water,andkitchentoolseachchildwilltrytofreetheirsuperhero.

Rainbow RiceMaterials • Rice(approx.1cup/colour)• Whitevinegar• Foodcolouring• Ziplockbags

Place1cupofdrywhiterice,4dropsoffoodcolouringand1/2tspofvinegarinalargeziplockbag.Sealandshake.Repeatforeachcolour.Pouroutflatontoacookietraytoletcoloursetovernight.Onceset,mixtogetherinalargesensorybinandhidesmalltoysforyourchildtoexploreanddiscover.

Indoor Construction SiteFillalargeshallowcontainerabout1/4fullwithlentilsorbeans.Addshovels,smalltoytrucks,andsmallcups.Explore!

Sweet Potatoes Play DoughMaterials • Sweetpotatoes• Marshmallowfluff• Cinnamon(optional)• Foodcolouring(optional)

Mashallingredientstogetherandexplorelikeplay-dough.Thisisfunforanyage,howeverthefactthatitisediblemakesitgreatforlittleones.Thisisalsofunforfoodexplorationforpickyeaters.

Eye-Spy SlimeMaterials• Clearglue• Warmwater• BoraxMixtwocupsofclearschoolgluewith2cupsofverywarmwater,stirwellandaddletters(oranysmallitems).Inaseparatecontainermix1tspboraxwith1and1/3cupsverywarmwateruntildissolved.Combinebowlstogetherandmixwithhands.

C L E A N U P C R E W

Moon DoughMaterials• Babyoil• FlourAdd1/2cupofbabyoilto4cupsofall-purposeflour.Mixwell.Placeinalargeshallowbinontheflooralongwithsomesandtoysandexplore!

Edible Finger PaintsMaterials • Largepaper• Maskingtape• Yogurt(plain)• Kool-AidSecurepapertothetabletoporfloor(dependentuponwhereyouwouldliketopaint).UseKool-Aidtocolourtheyogurt.Pourasmallamountofeachcolourontothepaperandletthemexplore!

Kool-Aid Play DoughMaterials • 1/4cupsalt• 1cupflour• 1packetKool-Aid• 1tbspvegetableoil• 2/3cupboilingwater

Mixdryingredients.Addoil.Addwaterandknead.Thisplaydoughiscolourfulandhasawonderfullyfragrantsmell.Storeinplasticbagsintherefrigerator.

Moon SandMaterials• 4cupsofcolouredplaysand• 2cupsofcornstarch• 1-3cupsofwater

Inlargebincombinealldryingredients.Addwateruntildesiredconsistencyisreached.Sandshouldbestoredinanopencontainer.Itwilldryout,howeverjustaddmorewatertoreturntodesiredstate.

Digging for WormsMaterials: • Onepackageofspaghettinoodles• Liquidfoodcolouring• Vegetableoroliveoil

Cookpastaandthendivideintobowlsonepercolour.Mixafewdropsoffoodcolouringintoeachbowluntilthedesiredcolourintensityisreached.Addasmallamountofcookingoil(tokeepitslimy).Mixallpastatogetherinalargesensorybinandadditemsofinterest.AtHalloweenafunadditionisspidersoreyeballs!

ExcavationMaterials• Knoxgelatin• Smalldinosaurs,bugsortreasures• Cakepan,jellymold,orlargemuffintin(cakepanor moldforco-operativesmallgroupactivity.Muffintin orminiloafpanforindividualsizes)• Avarietyofexcavationtools(mayinclude:spoons, chopsticks,toothbrush,paintbrush,etc.)Arrangeitemswithinthecontainer.Preparegelatinaccordingtopackagedirectionsandpourovertreasures.Refrigerateovernight.Releasefromcontainersoncesetbysoakingcontainerinhotwaterfor15secondsandthenflippingontoaplateortray.Providechildrenwithavarietyof“excavationtools”andhavethemfindthehiddentreasures.

Spaghetti Paint BrushesMaterials• Spaghetti• Yarn• Cookingoil• Paint• Paperplates• PaperCreatesmallbundles(aboutthesizeofaquarter)ofrawspaghettiandsecurewithyarnorstringapproximately1/4ofthewayfromtheend.Cookthebundlesanddrain.Coatthe“brushes”inasmallamountofoilthenlayflattocoolanddry.Provideeachchildwithone“brush”andapaperplatewith2coloursofpaint.Havethemusethespaghettiasapaintbrush.

Snow SlimeMaterials • Whiteglue• Warmwater• Iridescentglitter• BoraxInamediumsizedbowlmixtogether2cupsofwhiteglue,1.5cupsofverywarmwaterandglitter.Inaseparatebowlmixtogether3/4tspboraxand1&1/3cupsverywarmwater.Combinebowlsandmixingredientswithhands.Thisrecipecanberefrigeratedtogivesamecoldfeelassnow.Afunactivityistousesnowflakecookiecutterstomakemeltingsnowflakes.

Glow TubDimorturnoutthemainlightinyourwashroom.Addlightsticksandlotsofbubbles.

Paint PaletteUsingamuffintin,filleachcupwithshavingfoam(notgel).Stirinafewdropsoffoodcolouringintoeachone.Giveyourchildapaintbrushandletthemcreate!

Coloured Ice CubesAddafewdropsoffoodcolouringtoyouricecubetrayandletyourchildrenexplorethescienceofturningwatertoice.

Colour of the WeekAddafewdropsoffoodcolouringtothebathwaterwhileitisrunning.Choosecolourthemedtubtoysforthatdaytocompliment.Youcanalsoadd2dropsofanessentialoiltomakeitamulti-sensoryexperience.

T U B T I M E

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